Give me a ring when you come in just so I’ll know you’re home again.
Dearest Patricia:
Although I hope that you’ve been having (and will up to the last minute) a wonderful time, in spite of the weather, I shall be glad to see you again when you get home. I’ve missed the brief phone calls and contacts and I’ll be looking forward to our next dinner when I’ll hear from you as much as time and circumstances permit about your trip up and back and your time in the Tahoe area.
I’m glad that yesterday and today have been relatively clear days - at least here - for that means they’ve been better days than Thursday and Friday in the sierra. Late Friday the weather broke here, the sun came out and we were trusted to a constantly changing panorama of gorgeous clouds. I thought of you over and over as I looked at them because you enjoy the clouds so much. Also, I felt a bit envious, for I’m beginning to feel good enough to look forward to the days when I’ll be able to hike again at a brisk pace, to carry a sleeping bag and to camp out!
I hope that soon you’ll come to breakfast again - for “constant comment” and to see my cards that now cover close to half of the wall by my table - some 86 of them! Actually I shouldn’t count a couple because they are baby announcements and one from KPFA (“greetings and solicitations”) which is as much commercial as anything.
The New Year’s Eve I celebrated with the Tilden’s in east San Jose. Ron Sticher and his wife (very pretty and animated) were also present. We talked about a lot of things, laughed a lot over good humor, but mostly listened to the Tilden collection of records - especially a wide assortment of excellent jazz - including Count Basie and Thelonius Monk! Bill Tilden, I belive I’ve told you, played in pop orchestras and combos for many years and knows a lot about the history of jazz, the development of particular jazz movements, and many of the notable players, a few of whom he knows personally. I find him a fascinating person to talk music with - or just to listen to. I think you’d enjoy knowing the whole Tilden family - and would be at complete ease with them all. They are all individuals - bill and their daughter (5th or 6th grade) are “characters” when at home and among friends. All 5 - Bill, Hazel, Bruce, Jim and Jan are independent personalities. The kids are not in the least inhibited, but are well behaved - not wild.
The older boy (still in high school) is an accomplished collector of beetles and uses technical literature better than most college English majors - his collections are beautifully put up. He kept Ron Sticher completely absorbed for an hour. Jim - also in high school but a year or two younger - is quite [page 2] different - more studious - but an avid athlete (he holds the mile record for the James Lick H.S.) and a superior player of ping pong. Also something of a genuine artist. He has designed and carved (of hardwood) two beautiful pieces, one of an idealized bird about 2 ft. tall. Jan, the girl, seems to be all play and fun but I resume she has talents too.
Hazel (the Mrs.) is always friendly, full of good humor, an excellent hostess and always seems to have everything under control. Nevertheless she finds quite a lot of time to visit with the guests. Bill has an excellent sense of humor (shown in some of his record selections) for that matter all of them have a good sense of humor. Bill can shift instantly from light-hearted to serious things, of someone wants the latter - he looks at the whole of life, but he’s not a crusader. I’ll manage, if you’re interested, to find a time to take you to visit them before the college year is out. You’ll not regret it.
We all made our share of noise at the moment of 12, Sticher’s stayed till [?] two, which they had to relieve their baby sitter; I didn’t get away till three. Hazel insisted on making some late coffee for me as the temperature had dropped outside and she didn’t want me to risk irritating my throat unnecessarily when I started home. More talk of music! I stretched the time from 2:00 to 3:00. Bill and Hazel admired the scarf - of which I’m very proud. I wear it everywhere when the air is chilly.
When I did go out to start home, my entire car was covered with ice, the last of the rain [?] on the car. So I had to return to the Tilden’s for more hot water. I took a towel to be wet with hot water for me, but Bill brought out a tea kettle of hot water and poured it over the rear window and the windshield and some of the side windows of the car. I started the motor and the windshield wipers and could see clearly everywhere as I drove home. Didn’t get up till 10:00 on Saturday.
Had a visit Saturday P.M. by George Malonf (Lebanese student - I think he was in your class but it could have been the year before). He was one of the boys who had the Arab booth at the UN festival at the fairgrounds - the one that got closed up - a very nice, well-balanced, chap - with a good mind. We visited a couple of hours and parted with New Year’s wishes. I think he also is a type you’d enjoy knowing. Well, darling, here is the
end of my paper. All my love - Carl.
Dr. Carl Duncan and Patricia Whiting Collection (SJSU)
